THE JOURNEY THERE
We woke up early. Our group admitted that we won’t get to Madina for Jumuah as much as they had tried.
There was around 4 coaches parked up outside the Aziziya Apartment. They were brand new and one of the latest models.
Although coaches were already allocated for everyone, it was a bit of a task to find one’s allocation. A few papers were handed around by organisers, so I had to go from one person to another to find my families name, which I found quickly.
Family on board, coaches ready to leave. Goodbye Makkah. A really sad moment. All our efforts, months of preparation, finance, sacrifices were all for this place.
We steamed ahead. It was a relatively smooth ride.
Outside was the usual deserts of Arabia. I recall being given snacks and food by the tour group, but can’t remember what it was!
Midway the journey, the brother leading the coach announced that we’ll be stopping over to use the facilities and pray Jumuah at a service station.
The Masjid was packed so I had to pray outside. The weather was really hot. I had no prayer mats, so laid out my scarf and prayed on that.
Ouch! The floor was burning! I was literally hopping up and down in my Salah!
Oh my Allah I never had such an experience before! Straight after Salah I went quickly and washed my feet and jumped into the air conditioned coach.
We continued and stop over at a place where the authorities were giving out water to drink.
Finally, we reached Madina. Words cannot express my emotions at seeing the minarets of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alyhiwasallam.
We checked into Al-Eiman Royal Hotel, which is a short 5 minutes away from the Masjid.
The men had one room, where two of us shared with two brothers from Luton. The women, 4 in our group, had a room to themselves.
The group gave us QR codes to scan at breakfast and dinner time.
Alhamdulillah Madina we are here!
THE MASJID
I was longing to go to the Masjid and give my Salam to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alyhiwasallam. I can’t remember how and when I did it, nevertheless it was emotional. Being in front of the best of creations, I’m lost for words.
The Masjid was as grand as ever.
It just felt so good to be back.
Madina is like home and the streets were so easy to navigate.
Anyone who tells you about Madina, tells you have peaceful it is. After Hajj, it was nice to relax in Madina.
HIGHLIGHTS:
There’s no particular Ibadah to do in Madina as part of Hajj, however I’ll share some snapshots of my time there.
THE ROOF
A few days into my stay in Madina, I found out that the roof of Masjid An-Nabawi was open. So I went up. I decided that I’ll spend my time up here often as it’s really calm and only a handful of people come up here.
I have never really explored the roof before, so I enjoyed walking around and seeing the different parts of the Masjid roof, looking down through the glass at worshippers below, seeing the green dome etc
QUR’AN WITH SHAYKH MUHAMMAD AL-ANSARI
In Masjid An-Nabawi there were many open Qur’an classes where you can sit and either read Qur’an along with a teacher or read yourself to them. There must have been atleast a good 50 odd circles like that.
I happened to one day sit at the circle of Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ansari. A teacher who was the same age as me.
He spoke a little English so that was helpful. He would often stop me at each verse, because he was quite strict with pronunciation! I was sweating at times. Classes would take place after Maghrib.
Alhamdulillah I got to sit with him for 3 days after which we returned back to UK. MashaAllah a lovely person. May Allah bless him and his family, Aameen.
MEETING SHAYKH ABDUL MUHSIN AL-QASIM
One of my favourite Imams of Masjid An-Nabawi. I really enjoy his recitation and have read some of his speeches which are beautiful.
One day after Salah, I was walking inside the Masjid when suddenly I saw the Shaykh with some of his students. I took my chance and went upto him, shaking his hands. It was a very brief moment, yet I was elated!
He didn’t lead any Salah whilst we were there until the last day we prayed Jumuah behind him! Alhamdulillah.
BIRR RAWHA WELL
Apparently the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhiwasallam spat into this well which had bitter water. His blessed saliva turned the water sweet. SubhanAllah, till this day the water is sweet!
Me, Mum, Sister and wife had a really good time at the well. Thanks to our guide Montri Bai who took us there and told us some history.
Many prophets passed by this area and some Sahabah are also buried nearby.
The well is in the middle of the desert and it was so hot that day. There were some donkeys scattered nearby.
There’s a small musalla, a spot where I think Rasulullah Sallallahu Alyhiwasallam prayed at.
On our way back we got to pray Asr at Masjid Quba. This was our second visit there in a few days. Our driver kindly told us about the virtues of the Masjid and encouraged us to pray Two Rakah nafl as per the advice of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alyhiwasallam.
THE GRAVE OF UTHMAN RADHIAALLAHU ANHU
This was a first for me as I never really went deep into Jannatul Baqi, the graveyard of Madina.
I saw a crowd of people around a grave, being curious I went up. I realised it was the grave of the Third Khalifah of Islam, the son in-law of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alyhiwasallam. There’s no signs, but couple of men, seemingly some sort of officials, were speaking about something in Arabic that I didn’t understand much. I think it was to explain to people not to do any bidah etc near the grave.
I was in awe when I stood there. I felt goosebumps. I felt shy, just like Uthman RadhiaAllahu Anhu was shy. What a man he was.
HUGGED BY KIDS OF MADINA
During a walk with my family around Masjid An-Nabawi, we came across a few little children who were going round selling itr for a small amount of money. They would come up to us and plead for us to buy one.
One of the kids came and suddenly hugged me! He really wanted to sell it to us. This was charity with dignity, no begging. Alhamdulillah we purchased.
WALKING TOUR
Our group took us on a walking tour around Masjid An-Nabawi. It was refreshing to see different spots around the Masjid and the significance of each place.
Group leaders from Ahmed Travels: L-R Zahin, Tamim bai, Bilal bai, Montri bai (may Allah reward them, Aameen)
VISITING THE FARM OF ABDUR RAHMAN IBN AUF RADHIAALLAHU ANHU
Our group took us on a tour of Madina and one of the stops was the date farm, supposedly of the Sahabi Abdur Rahman ibn Auf RadhiaAllahu Anhu, one of the 10 promised Jannah.
It’s now a date market, where people go to buy dates and other things. We bought some from here.
It was a nice experience Alhamdulillah.
THE LAST DAY
The last of anything is a sad thing. The last day in Madina was hard and emotional.
The last Salah we performed was Salatul Jumu’ah by Shaykh Abdul Muhsin al-Qasim. It was beautiful.
Alhamdulillah our coach came and after a delay we went to the Madina airport, checked in and were on our way.
We had a stopover in Bahrain for a few hours and then landed safely in London, Alhamdulillah.
May Allah accept our time in Madina and call us to His Haramain again, Aameen
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